Ahead of the New York Jets’ Week 12 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, head coach Aaron Glenn announced he would be making a quarterback change, benching Justin Fields in favor of veteran Tyrod Taylor.
Against Baltimore on Sunday, Taylor made his second start as a Jet and his first since being named the team’s starter.
Speaking to reporters, Glenn assessed Taylor’s performance while going up against a highly talented Ravens defense.
“I thought he operated very well,” said Glenn regarding the veteran’s outing against the team that initially drafted him into the league. “[I] Look forward to seeing how he’s going to operate moving forward.”
Taylor finished the game completing 17 of his 28 passing attempts (61%) for 222 yards, one touchdown, and an interception on a desperation heave. He picked up 19 yards on the ground throughout five carries and took three sacks.
The Jets immediately saw the benefits of starting Taylor over Fields. Their passing game opened up, as Taylor took a number of shots down the field and made some quality throws outside of the pocket. Not all of Taylor’s downfield shots connected, but the Jets’ passing game at least posed a threat to the defense.
On the downside, though, Taylor missed a few open receivers throughout the game, whether he was late with the ball, threw an inaccurate pass, or didn’t see the open man. Ultimately, the final results were hardly different for the Jets’ offense, which finished with just 10 points, 15 first downs, and 282 total yards.
Still, the Taylor-led offense displayed a higher ceiling. Moving forward, with more manageable matchups at home against the Falcons and Dolphins, the Jets’ offense could find its groove soon.
Additionally, if the Jets want any real shot at evaluating their young offensive pieces down the stretch, they need a quarterback who’s willing to take chances downfield. Taylor showed that in Baltimore. New York’s two recently-acquired receivers, John Metchie and Adonai Mitchell, combined for 14 targets in Baltimore, catching eight passes for 107 yards and a touchdown.
No one is confusing Taylor for Jared Goff or Baker Mayfield, but he played like what he is: a high-end backup. Right now, that’s better than what the Jets were getting out of Justin Fields.
